Corn-harvesting and shock-forming machine.



No. 663,93l. Patented Dec [8, I900. H. H. ROUSH.

CORN HARVESTING AND SHOCK FORM INC MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept. 4. 1900) (No llodeL,

2 Sheets-Shut No. 663,93l. PatentedDec. l8, 19001.

H. H. nousu.

CORN HARVESTING AND-SHOCK FORMING MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept. $1900.:

2 Shaats$haet 2.

(No Model.)

v UNITED, STATES PATENT FFICE.

HARVEY H. ROUSH, OF MIDDLEPORT, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRANK J. OWEN, OF PHILIPPI, WEST VIRGINIA.

CORN-HARVESTING AND SHOCK-FORMING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 663,931, dated December 18, 1900.

Application filed September 4, 1900, Serial No. 28,958. (No model.)

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, HABVEY H. ROUSH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Middleport, in the county of Meigs and State of Ohio, have invented a new anduseful Corn-f Harvesting and Shock-Forming Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved corn-harvesting and shock-forming machine, the object of my invention being to provide improved.

means whereby the harvested corn may be formed into a shock on the machine as the same progresses, whereby the shock may be tied, and whereby the shock when formed and tied may be removed from the machine and deposited in an upright position on the field.

' My invention consists in the peculiar'construction and combination of devices hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l'is a perspective view of a corn-harvesting and shock-forming machine embodying my improvements. Fig, 2 is a top plan view of the same, partly in horizontal section, on a plane immediately above the main frame and just below the revoluble shock -forming table. Fig. 3is a detail View of the spider. is a similar view of one of the arms thereof.

The main frame 1 of the machine is rectangular in form and is supported at its front end by a caster-wheel 2, the rear portion of 8, which by passing on opposite sides of the rows of corn guide the cornstalks into the paths of the cutting mechanisms. From the rear sides of the said standards 7 project the re'arwardly-extending bundling-arms 9,which are springs that form, substantially, semicircles and while having their rear ends normally in contact with each other are adapted Fig. at

Sweep-reelsll are carried by shafts 12, which are journaled in bearings 13 on the 'inner sides of the inner standards 7. The said sweep-reels are disposed above the spring? arms 9 and rotate in the directions indicated by the arrows and serve to catch the upper portions of the cornstalks as the same are cut by the cutting mechanisms and to sweep the said'cornstalks into the bundling-arms. The butts of the cornstalks as the same are cut pass rearwardly from the cutting mechanism onto the front portion of the platform 14 on the frame 1.

I will now describe my improved means for forming the corn into shocks, tying the samepand delivering the shocks from the machine and setting them up on the field.

A circular revoluble shock-forming table 15 is mounted on the platform 14 and has on its lower side a gearring 16, (indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2,) which is engaged by a gear-wheel17 on the axle-shaft 3, and thereby said table is rotated. A center post 18 projects from the upper side of the table, and the radially-disposed partition-wing 19 is on one side of said post. A spider 20 is carried by the center post and comprises a cap 21, which is fitted on the upper end of the center post and is removable therefrom, and radial arms 22, which are hinged to the said cap. The inner end of the said radial arms are fitted in openings in the cap, and when the said radial arms are in a horizontal position they come in contact with the upper sides of said openings, but are free to be turned. downward from the cap.

On one of the rear corners of the frame 1 is mounted a crane 23, the arm of which is adapted to be swung over the center post, and the said crane is provided with a hoisting-lever 24E and a trip-lever 25-, which respectively engage the detent-segments 26 27. The said levers are provided with the usual spring-pressed locking-dogs, which by engagement with the said detent-segments secure said levers in any required position. A hoisting-rope 28 is attached to the lever 24, passes over directionpulleys 29 on the crane, and the lower end of the said rope is connected to the arms of the lever 25. One of the arms 22 of the spider is provided with a spring-clip 33 or other suitable means for the attachment of the end of the binding-cord 34 to said spider-arm.

The binding-cord is carried on asuitable spool provided with a suitable tension device and located in a case or can 35, which is mounted on a standard 36, that is diagonally opposite the crane.

The operation of my invention is as follows: As the bundling-arms become filled the corn is taken in bundles therefrom by an operator stationed on the machine and formed into a shock on the table 15, the center post and the arms of the. spider supporting the corn while the shock is being formed. The binding-cord havingbeen initially attached to one ofthe spider-arms when the shock has been formed on the table, the same by its rotation has caused the binding-cord to be passed several times around the shock from the center to the circumference thereof and near the upper end thereof. The cord is tied by the eperatorto bind the shock, and then by means of the crane the shock is hoisted from the table, together with the spider, swung rearward of the machine, and lowered to the ground. When the shock has been thus lowered to the ground in an upright position, the operator by means of the trip-lever25 draws upward on the cap 21 of the spider, hence causing the arms 22 of the spider to fold inwardly under the cap as-the latteris raised, thus enabling the spider to be readily drawn from the center of the shock. The radial partition-wing, which projects from one side of the center post, enables the shock to be swung laterally from the table in a direction in line with said partitionwing, the said partition-wing being in the position indicated inFig. 1 of the drawings when the shock is thus discharged from'the machine.

Any suitable means may be employed for communicating power from the axle-shaft to the cutting nechanisms and the sweepreels. As shown in the drawings, the cutting mechanisms are operated by a cam 37 on a shaft 38, which is driven by means of a pair of sprocket-wheels 39 40 on said shaft and the axle-shaft, respectively, and an'endless sprocket-chain 41, which connects said sprocket-wheels. The lower ends of the reelshafts 12 are geared to a shaft 42 by mitergears 43. Said shaft 42 is connected by mitergears 44 to the front end of a shaft 45, which latter shaft is connected to the axle-shaft by gears 46. A hand-lever 47'is connected to the wheel 17, which is splined on the axle-shaft either by the means shown or by any other 47 being to throw the gear 17 into or out of operative relation with the gear 16 of the table 15', whereby the latter may be caused to revolve at will.

I do not desire to limit myself to the precise construction and combination of devices hereinshown and described, as it is evident same above and rotate the same with the shock-forming table, means to lift said spider, together with a shock of corn, from the shock-forming table, means to support a ball or reel of binding-cord, and means to attach the binding-cord to the spider, for the purpose set forth, substantially as described.

2. In a harvesting-machine, the combination of a revoluble shock-forming table havinga centralpost, a removable spider fitted on said post, a crane to lift said spider, together with a shock of corn from the shockforming table, a stationary support for a ball or reel of binding-cord, and means to attach the binding-cord to one of the arms of the spider, for the purpose setforth, substantially as described.-

3. In a corn-harvesting machine, a revoluble shock-forming table having acentral post, a spider comprising a cap fitted. on said post and removable therefrom, and radial arms hinged to said cap, a crane having ahoistingrope connected to the arms of said spider and a trip rope connected to the said cap, wherebythe latter may be drawn upward through the center of a shockwhen the latter has been discharged from the machine, substantially as described.

4. In a corn-harvesting machine, the combination of a revoluble shock-forming table, a revoluble spideigcomprising a central or hub member and radial arms hinged thereto,

one of said arms having means whereby a bindingcord may be attached thereto, a support on said table for said spider, a stationary support for a ball or reel of binding- ,cord, a hoisting device having a hoisting-rope connected to the arms of said spider, and a trip-rope connected to the said central or hub member of said spider, whereby the latter may be drawn upward through the center of a shock when the shock has been discharged from the machine, substantially as described. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HARVEY H. ROUSH. 

